WO2013060511A1

WO2013060511A1 - Sensor arrangement with mechanical prestress

Info

Publication number: WO2013060511A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/066820
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Bahr; Matthias LETZGUS; Klaus Lindner; Denis Kern
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-10-24
Filing date: 2012-08-30
Publication date: 2013-05-02
Also published as: DE102011085064A1

Abstract

Sensor arrangement (2) having a sensor element (4) and a carrier element (6), wherein the sensor element (4) is arranged on the carrier element (6), characterized in that the carrier element (6) has a mechanical prestress (8) and the carrier element (6) is set up to place the sensor element (4) onto a defined point using the mechanical prestress (8).

Description

Sensor arrangement with mechanical bias

The present invention relates generally to measurement technology in vehicles.

In particular, the present invention relates to the positioning of a

Sensor arrangement in a vehicle, in particular in an electrical machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a

Sensor arrangement for a vehicle, in particular for an electric or

Hybrid vehicle, with a mechanical bias and an electric machine and a vehicle, comprising an inventive

Sensor arrangement.

State of the art

Modern vehicles, such as hybrid or electric vehicles, have due to the progressive integration of control or

Convenience features a large number of different sensor elements that provide the control electronics of the vehicle current measurements.

For example, sensor elements may be acceleration sensors for an ESP or ABS control, pressure sensors for hydraulic components of the vehicle or even temperature sensors.

These sensors are usually arranged at a defined position in the vehicle and thus set up to detect a local measured variable. For this purpose, it may be necessary for the respective sensor system to assume a specific, defined position, in order thereby to record a required measured value

best possible to realize.

For example, conventional temperature sensors are placed directly on or on an element whose temperature is to be detected by the sensors. Here, the sensors can be mounted directly on or on the component and are therefore sensitive to external influences. Alternatively like sensors with a material, such as a mounting material overmoulded, but this can result in a significantly increased space requirement. Another implementation may lie in the use of a so-called slide, which, however, is also very process sensitive. Under sled is a plastic sprayed

Support member with relatively thick walls, as minimum wall thicknesses must be met, to understand, can be mounted in the sensitive sensor elements. Due to the sensitivity of certain

However, this sensor elements can be damaged. Disclosure of the invention

One aspect of the present invention may be in the safe and defined

Arrangement of a sensor element relative to a component can be seen.

Accordingly, a sensor arrangement and for a vehicle, an electric machine and for a vehicle and a vehicle according to the independent claims are displayed. Preferred embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

By applying or introducing or enclosing a

Sensor element on or in a carrier element, for example a

foil-like element, this can be used as a support of the sensor element and at the same time provide a connection to the further wiring, such as a wiring harness. The sensor element may in this case be e.g. be introduced into a substantially rectangular shaped carrier film, which is constructed for example of two carrier element halves, the sensor element and a possible conductive connection to another

Include or enclose conductor elements.

By using the carrier element, the sensor element can preferably be arranged in a defined manner, while at the same time it can be protected from external influences by the carrier element. By a suitable choice of a material for the carrier element, a fast reaction time of the sensor element can be ensured. A single or several

Sensor elements as a temperature sensor can / can be used here as, for example, NTC Temperature sensor, for example in S MD design, as a glass bead or mixed, be executed.

At the arrangement point of the sensor element, thus the range of

Carrier element, in which the sensor elements are arranged, the sensor elements with surrounding elements or

Components are in contact and thereby absorb a required measure.

The use of one or more sensor elements on a carrier element can in particular be used to assume a suitable or defined position between closely adjacent components. In the case where the carrier element substantially consists of a flexible foil, however, a direct arrangement on a component to be measured, for example the support or the contact of the sensor element on the component for temperature determination, can not always be ensured.

According to the invention, the carrier element, for example embodied as a flexible foil element, can have a resilient region, which is set up in this way, a sensor element in one direction out of its

Extension plane of the support element to put out and thus hang up, for example, to a nearby element or

aufzupressen.

The resilient region can thus also be understood as a deformation, in particular with a mechanical bias, which is suitable for contacting an adjacent component with the sensor element. in the

Essentially, a permanently existing contact between the sensor element and a defined point on the adjacent element should be realized. For example, within the scope of a

Temperature sensor can thereby be ensured that the

Sensor element always returns a substantially correct temperature reading by its permanent contact with the element to be measured. By buckling of the support element, a kind of spring element or a resilient region can be generated, which in addition to the mechanical

Preload for placement on a defined point compensate for component tolerances or can adapt the three-dimensional shape of the support member to nearby components for assembly.

The resilient region or the mechanical bias can be realized, for example, by a preformed three-dimensional configuration of the carrier element. Such carrier elements may e.g. through a

Be thermoformed thermoforming process, for example, be formed from a thermoforming sheet.

In the case that the carrier element consists of at least two carrier element halves, they can be glued against each other, so that a three-dimensional shaping of the carrier element results. For example, the foils can not be laid flat, but slightly displaced relative to one another or glued or glued or welded, so that a wavy or curved three-dimensional structure results, which provides the resilient region or the mechanical prestress.

On the one hand, such a three-dimensional deformation in the form of a shaft can only be realized locally at the position of the sensor element or it can also detect the carrier element over a large area. The resilient region or the

Mechanical bias does not necessarily have to be realized at the actual position of the sensor element. It can also attack at another point or at another element, but still ensure that the sensor element is placed on a defined point due to the continuous, one-piece design of the support element.

A rib or wave shape of the carrier element may make it possible to direct liquid fillers or fluids, such as casting resin, preferably around the carrier element and thus allow a simple encapsulation of elements or components with a sensor arrangement arranged close to it. In addition to a pure waveform, the support element can also openings or

Perforationslöcher to allow a flow of a fluid. An embedding of a sensor arrangement realizes here a reduction of the sensitivity of the sensor element, for example against breakdown at high voltage. A possible creepage of a current in this case is more predictable and much better to implement compared to known paint or powder coatings, or other insulating materials.

Particularly in the case of a two-part support element, that side of the sensor element which faces away from the element to be measured may be provided with a shield element which ensures that actions which could influence a measured value are essentially only from the side of the component to be measured act on the sensor element. In the case of a temperature sensor, this may be, for example, a temperature shield, so that a measured temperature is substantially only from the side not covered by the temperature shield.

One application of the sensor arrangement according to the invention is in an electrical machine, e.g. in their stator region to determine the temperature of the windings of the electric machine. The stator can be soaked in a dip tank with a casting resin and thus shed, so that the sensor arrangement according to the invention remains in the casting resin. The previously described waveform or the openings in

Carrier element allow an improved backflow or flow through a fluid to or through the support element. Likewise, the sensor arrangement can also be used as a subsequently introduced element, in particular according to

Introducing the fluid, conceivable in this stator.

The support element itself can also provide insulation of the sensor element or possibly existing conductors, for example flexible foil conductors, for connecting the sensor element to a further wiring. By a suitable embodiment of the carrier element can be realized by an end face or by its dimensions, length and width, as well as the known arrangement of the sensor element on the support member, a positioning on or on a component, so that the sensor assembly by attaching or plugging on / in a suitable holder due to the dimensions of the carrier element, the sensor element on the known or desired

Position placed with high accuracy. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

Show it

FIGS. 1 a, b show an exemplary embodiment of a sensor arrangement according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2a, b show exemplary embodiments of the carrier element according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary application scenario of a

inventive sensor arrangement.

Embodiments of the invention

FIG. 1 a shows a plan view of a sensor arrangement 2 according to the invention, while FIG. 1 b shows a lateral cross section through the cross-sectional line A-A.

A sensor element 4 is arranged in a region of the sensor arrangement 2 and, shown only schematically, with flexible guide elements or foil conductors 12 with a conductor element 10, designed as an example as a pair

Conductor elements 10, connected. Guide elements 12 are in this case designed as a film with integrated conductor tracks. In a connection region 14, the guide elements 12 are electrically conductively connected to the conductor elements 10 and thereby connect sensor element 4 to the conductor elements 10.

Ladder elements 10 may now be laid arbitrarily in the vehicle,

For example, to a communication bus e.g. CAN bus or FlexRay, to be connected in the vehicle. A discrete connection to a control unit is also conceivable.

Carrier element 6 has an essentially rectangular cross-section in FIG. 1a by way of example. The lower side or else the further, lateral sides can be designed as a stop 18. As a result, the carrier element can be on a defined edge or in a defined opening or arrange column and thus arrange sensor element 4 defined with respect to this edge. As a result, the sensor element can rest on a component at a defined point in order to determine a desired sensor value there. For example, sensor element 4 may rest on a component and determine a temperature of the component there.

In the cross section of Figure lb to see the exemplary, two-layer structure of the support member 6, realized by means of a first support member half 6a and a second support member half 6b. In cross section, the carrier element has no continuous planar configuration, but has a resilient

Area 8, a mechanical bias 8, which may be laterally as a bulge of the support element. This bulge in the

Carrier element 6, thus the resilient region 8, can be realized on the one hand by a corresponding three-dimensional design of the carrier element 6 or by using substantially planar

Carrier element halves 6a, b, which under mechanical tension

glued against each other, glued or welded. Due to the forces resulting therefrom, a three-dimensional deformation, thus a deflection or undulation of the carrier element 6, can be produced.

In the resilient region 8, the sensor arrangement 2 can press the sensor element 4 onto a defined point of a component or contact it substantially flush, so that a preferred measured value determination, for example the temperature of the component, can be realized.

Component tolerances or tolerances in the relative arrangement of

Sensor assembly 2 and the component to be measured can thus be compensated via the resilient region 8 using the bias voltage 8. By the resilient region 8 ensures that the sensor element 4 rests flush and conclusive on the component to be measured.

FIG. 2a shows a shaping of the carrier element 6 in the form of a shaft. Such a shaping can in turn be realized by using a three-dimensional configuration of the carrier element, for example by using a thermoforming film or else by a continuously varying bonding of the individual carrier element halves to one another, whereby a corresponding wave structure can be realized. Such a corrugated structure makes it possible, for example in a casting process, for a fluid to better circulate or flow behind the carrier element.

For an even better backflow or reflow are shown in Figure 2b

Perforation holes or openings 16 provided in the carrier element 6. Thus, not only can a fluid pass the support member 6 better via a waveform, it can also flow through the openings 16 therethrough to the rear. Air pockets or places where after a

Casting process no fluid is encountered, can thus be effectively avoided.

Still referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary

Application scenario of a sensor arrangement according to the invention shown.

FIG. 3 shows a part of an electric machine 20 for a vehicle.

In particular, FIG. 3 shows a stator of the electric machine 20 with individual coil windings 24 arranged in a housing 22.

To measure the temperatures of the individual current-carrying windings 24, a sensor arrangement 2 according to the invention is arranged as an example between two windings 24. The carrier element is in this case inserted between the coil windings 24 and protrudes only with an upper portion between the coil windings 24.

The sensor element 4 is thus located between the coil windings 24, lies in particular on a coil winding due to the mechanical

Preload 8 of the resilient portion 8 flush. By means of this flush contact, a preferred detection of a temperature of a coil winding 24 using the sensor element 4 can be realized.

Guide elements 12 lead in the carrier element 6 to conductor element 10, which subsequently in the vehicle e.g. connected to a suitable control unit.

Claims

claims

1 . Sensor arrangement (2) for a vehicle, comprising

a sensor element (4), and

a carrier element (6),

wherein the sensor element (4) is arranged on the carrier element (6), characterized in that

the carrier element (6) has a mechanical prestress (8); and the carrier element (6) is arranged by means of the mechanical

Preload (8) to hang the sensor element (4) to a defined point.

2. Sensor arrangement according to the preceding claim, wherein the

Carrier element has

a first carrier element half (6a), and

a second carrier element half (6b),

wherein the sensor element (4) is arranged between the first carrier element half (6a) and the second carrier element half (6b).

3. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the carrier element (6) has a connection region (14) for a conductor element (10);

wherein the connection region (14) is arranged locally separate from the sensor element (4); and

wherein a flexible guide element (12) is arranged between the connection region (14) and the sensor element (4) and conductively connects the connection region (14) and the sensor element (4).

4. Sensor arrangement according to claim 3,

wherein the guide element (12) is arranged isolated on the carrier element (6), in particular between the first carrier element half (6a) and the second Support element half (6b) is arranged, further in particular by the carrier element halves (6a, b) is arranged insulated.

Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the mechanical bias (8) is realized by a

Design from the group consisting of 3D-shaping of the

Carrier element, thermoforming of the support element and

braced arranging, in particular braced bonding, of the first carrier element half and the second carrier element half.

Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the carrier element (6) is formed wave-shaped and / or perforated and thereby provides a backflow or flow through a fluid to or through the carrier element (6).

Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the carrier element (6) has a stop (18);

wherein the stop (18) has a defined positioning of

Sensor arrangement (2), in particular of the sensor element (4), with respect to the defined point allows.

Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the sensor element (4) is designed as a temperature sensor element.

Electric machine (20) for a vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising a sensor arrangement (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

Vehicle, in particular automobile, comprising an electric machine (20) according to claim 9 and / or a sensor arrangement (4) according to one of claims 1 to 8.